DVLA commissions Asuogyaman office as MP sponsors licences for 500 drivers, riders

Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe has urged residents of Asuogyaman to make full use of the newly commissioned Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) office at Senchi and desist from patronising intermediaries popularly known as “Goroboys”.

He said residents no longer needed to travel to Somanya or Koforidua to access DVLA services, as the new facility had brought vehicle registration and driver licensing services closer to them.

“You do not need to travel to Somanya or Koforidua to renew or register your vehicle. This is your office. Make use of it,” he said.

The DVLA commissioned its first office in the Asuogyaman District on Friday, August 14, 2026, with Asuogyaman MP Thomas Nyarko Ampem sponsoring driving licence acquisition and renewal for 500 qualified drivers and motor riders in the district.

The office is the 25th of 40 new district offices the Authority plans to establish across the country by the end of 2026, as part of efforts to decentralise its operations and improve access to driver licensing and vehicle registration services.

Nikpe said the decentralisation programme was also intended to improve road safety by making driver education, licensing and professional training more accessible.

He said government, in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, was introducing Traffic Tech, a technology-based system to detect road offences, including speeding.

The Minister also disclosed plans to introduce new vehicle number plates with embedded SIM technology to assist law enforcement agencies in monitoring vehicles and improving road safety.

On commercial motorcycle operations, Nikpe said government was taking time to ensure adequate education and training before fully rolling out the amended policy allowing motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles to undertake commercial activities.

He urged prospective commercial motorcycle riders to work with the Ministry of Transport, DVLA, National Road Safety Authority and the Ghana Police Service to promote discipline and safety on the roads.

Nikpe further cautioned residents against handing their documents to intermediaries who promise to process vehicle registration or licence renewals on their behalf.

He encouraged residents to walk into the DVLA office and seek assistance directly from officials, noting that local staff had been employed to help residents understand and complete the processes.

Meanwhile, DVLA Chief Executive Julius Neequaye said the Authority’s newly introduced vehicle-cloning detection technology had helped identify and seize about 200 cloned vehicles within a month and a half.

He explained that the technology allows the DVLA to verify vehicle chassis numbers directly with manufacturers, helping to detect cloned vehicles before they are registered.

Neequaye also announced plans to introduce biometric international driving licences and decentralise the printing of driving licences to district offices to reduce delays.

He said the DVLA was also expanding its cashless payment system as part of efforts to improve efficiency and transparency in its operations.

Asuogyaman MP Thomas Nyarko Ampem said the establishment of the office would help address the difficulties residents, drivers and vehicle owners faced travelling outside the district to access DVLA services.

As part of his support for the initiative, Ampem paid the licence acquisition and renewal fees for 500 qualified drivers and motor riders in the district.

Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey commended the MP for supporting development initiatives in Asuogyaman and highlighted ongoing investments in roads, health, education and economic empowerment.

The commissioning attracted members of the general public, Okada riders, commercial drivers, traditional leaders, political figures and other stakeholders.

The opening of the Senchi office is expected to improve access to driver licensing and vehicle registration services for residents of Asuogyaman and support the DVLA’s broader decentralisation and road safety agenda.